A woman identified as Mrs Angela Achilefu, scalded her 17-year-old houseboy’s body after she poured hot water on his bare chest on Akinola Street, Gemade Estate, in the Ipaja area of Lagos State.
The victim identified only as Chidera, who lived with the woman and her husband at the above-mentioned address is currently battling with burns injuries after Achilefu attacked him for coming back late from an errand she sent him on Thursday, August 6, 2015.
Punch reports that the woman had sent Chidera to open her cosmetics shops in the Egbeda and Gowon Estate areas for her sales girls around 8am on the fateful day, giving him N100 as transport fare.
Due to the little money given to him for transport, the victim reportedly walked his way through the shop in Gowon Estate, a few miles from Egbeda, and walked his way home as well.
It was gathered that Chidera returned around 9am which the woman considered as late and reportedly took the boiling water she wanted to use to prepare tea and splashed it on him.
The suspect was arrested after the matter was reported at the Gowon Estate Police Station by some concerned neighbours who saw the injury and asked the boy what the matter was.
A resident, who identified himself only as Stephen, said the woman was released three hours after she was arrested.
He said, “The boy was in pain when somebody saw him and called other residents of the estate.
“They held the woman and alerted policemen, who arrested her. But surprisingly, the woman came back after three hours.”
Also speaking anonymously, another neighbour, said, “Chidera was brought to Lagos about three years ago from Abia State, where the woman also hails from. But she is harsh on him. She said it was just small hot water in a tea cup she poured on him and that she did it out of anger.
“She sent him to open her shops and gave him N100, instead of N200. From this street to the (Gemade) estate gate is N50 bike.
“From the gate to her first shop in Egbeda is another N50. What did she want him to do? So, he had to trek to the other shop in Gowon Estate and trek back home.”
A member of Human Rights Justices and Peace Foundation, who resides in the area, Mr. Felix Akpugo, said he was relaxing at home when his sister called his attention to the incident.
He said, “This is cruelty that must not be allowed to be covered up. It is wickedness.”
The Chairman of the landlords association of the estate, Mr. Tunde Oluwarotimi, said the community had left the case to the police.
Confirming the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Patricia Amadin, said the woman was still in the police custody.
She said, “The suspect has been arrested and detained in the police station while the victim is receiving treatment at a hospital in Gowon Estate.”
Check the graphic photo HERE.
